Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-07-03

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[02] Cyprus Government denounces Turkish claims

[03] British Premier reiterates commitment for Cyprus solution

[04] AIDS case defendant claims he revealed disease

[05] Clerides to raise missing persons issue at direct talks

1520:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Cyprus Stock Exchange

CSE All Share Index                    76.30 (-0.52)

Highest: 82.46 (2/1/97)
Lowest : 73.90 (30/1/97)

Sectural Indices

Banks                                  84.49 (-0.32)
Approved Investment Companies          65.41 (+0.25)
Insurance Companies                    60.37 (-1.52)
Industrial Companies                   79.15 (-1.16)
Tourist Industries                     64.35 (-0.03)
Commercial Companies                   49.35 (-1.04)
Other Companies                        61.97 (-0.19)

Trading Volume                         CYP 739990.731

CNA MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1835:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Cyprus Government denounces Turkish claims

Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides stated that both the governments of Cyprus and Greece have dismissed claims by Ankara and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that the two countries offer military support to the Kurds.

"We deny these claims," he said, reminding that the government "had recently refuted Turkish claims that Cyprus is providing the Kurds with missiles."

The Spokesman noted that "whenever a round of negotiations on Cyprus is due they (Turks) escalate these views, slanders and false claims, creating a climate which is not conducive to effective talks."

Pointing to "unprecedented" international interest for a comprehensive Cyprus solution, Christofides said "we will attend the talks with goodwill, aiming to achieve a Cyprus solution."

The direct negotiations between President Clerides and Rauf Denktash will take place near New York, July 9-13.

"President Clerides will attend the negotiations decisively, backed by his recent talks in Athens and guided by the National Council's (the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus issue) unanimous decisions," the Spokesman said.

Christofides added the governments of Cyprus and Greece confirmed their close cooperation, noting that during President Clerides' visit in Athens, earlier this week, they had "common views on the tactics to be followed."

Replying to questions, the Spokesman said that any decision on Cyprus' course for accession to the European Union (EU) cannot be vetoed by third parties.

Commenting on objections by Denktash and Turkey over the island's EU membership, Christofides noted this "cannot be the result of an extortionate policy by any third party that is not an EU member."

CNA MCH/AP/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1840:CYPPRESS:03

[03] British Premier reiterates commitment for Cyprus solution

This was stressed yesterday by Prime Minister Tony Blair in his reply to a question put forward in the House of Commons by Labour MP Robin Corbett.

Corbett asked the British Premier to confirm that his government attaches "high importance to giving every possible assistance to helping the two communities" reach an agreement on a federal bizonal solution.

Blair was positive and said "I can confirm that I remain committed to that."

He noted that Britain will hold the European Union (EU) six-month rotating presidency in the first half of 1998 and reiterated "we are committed to using the presidency to find the long-term solution to the problem of Cyprus that everyone wishes to see."

According to a decision by the EU, taken March 1995, accession talks with Cyprus will begin six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference, and according to officials they are expected to begin early 1998.

CNA KT/AP/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1850:CYPPRESS:04

[04] AIDS case defendant claims he revealed disease

Cross-examined by the prosecution, Thursday, Pavlos Georgiou, 40, from the eastern coastal resort of Ayia Napa, told the Famagusta District Court he had revealed to his former lover he had AIDS right after they met, in September 1993.

Georgiou is accused of negligently infecting Janette Pink, 45, a divorcee mother-of-two from Basildon in Essex, with the disease during an affair that began when she came to Cyprus on vacation.

He told the Court she was well aware of his condition before their sexual relationship began and denied she had first learned of his killer disease from his sister-in-law, after his wife's death from an AIDS related disease.

Georgiou's wife died on August 18, 1994, while their fourth child was also tested HIV positive.

He also denied they always had unprotected sex and told the Court the first time this happened was on April 23, 1994, on Pink's birthday, at her own risk.

Pink, who has developed AIDS, claims her former lover never told her about having the HIV virus before they had unprotected sex.

The defendant said he was a family man and claimed that his British former lover had a voracious sexual appetite in her daily life that he was unable to quench.

Georgiou, who faces a maximum of two-years imprisonment, has been charged under section 190 of the Criminal Code, originally drawn up to fight the spread of cholera and typhoid, 50 years ago.

The trial was adjourned until tomorrow, when two character witnesses for Georgiou will testify.

CNA MAN/AP/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1950:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Clerides to raise missing persons issue at direct talks

President Clerides met today with the Co-ordinating Council of the Committees of Relatives of Missing Persons in Cyprus, that once again raised their demand for the appointment of a representative in the UN Investigatory Committee on Missing Persons.

The Committee was set up in 1981, and consists of a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot representative and a third member appointed by the UN Secretary-General.

President of the National Struggle Committee for the Missing, Father Christoforos, said President Clerides assured them he will raise the issue to both the UN Secretary-General and Denktash during the direct talks, scheduled to take place July 9-13 in the Troutbeck rural retreat, north of New York.

On his part, President of the Pancyprian Committee of Parents and Relatives of Undeclared Prisoners and Missing Persons, Nicos Theodosiou, expressed satisfaction with the President's assurances on this humanitarian issue.

Since the retirement of Paul Wurth, of the International Red Cross Society, more than a year ago, no third member has been appointed by the UN to replace him.

The relatives of missing persons have repeatedly expressed "disappointment and deep concern" regarding the delay on the part of the UN to appoint a representative to the committee.

A total of 1619 Greek Cypriots were listed as missing soon after the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island, which resulted to the occupation of 37 per cent of the island's northern territory and the uprooting of 200.000 persons from their homes.

CNA AP/MA/1997

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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